Robert Gaither is a 39-year-old former salesman, a teddy bear of a guy with a full brown beard that makes him look a little like a mountain man. He does in fact live in the mountains — Lake Arrowhead, to be exact — but right now he is standing in an exhibit space at a downtown San Francisco hotel, showing off his wares at a conference exploring the intersection of cannabis, tech, media and finance.

Gaither is selling an expensive cannabis extraction system created by his wife, Brenna, a biochemist.

They decided at the last minute to attend this gathering, the New West Summit, last Friday and Saturday. And they are glad they came. Over the course of the two days, their booth will generate more than $250,000 in orders.

As a consequence of the rapid expansion of the cannabis industry, competitive pressures have risen. Today, entry barriers faced by new companies interested in the cannabis industry are falling, but there is no guarantee that this will continue into the future. And current cannabis industry participants know it.

Take, for instance, the recently failed industry-sponsored legalization initiative in Ohio earlier this month, which was driven by the backlash from pro-legalization supporters who voted against the issue because the of bill’s stipulations allowing the development of a state-protected oligopoly of 10 companies as opposed to a more open cannabis market.

Utilities should view legalization as an opportunity, not a threat.

Maybe you’re sitting on the couch right now, reading this as you light up a joint. And maybe you’re in one of the states where what you’re doing is no longer a crime, so you’re feeling pretty good because your leisure activity will no longer lure the police into your home.

Sorry to harsh your buzz, but that marijuana, legal or not, probably sucked up a lot of electricity during its cultivation. One study estimates that it takes as much energy to produce 18 pints of beer as it does just one joint (and that doesn't factor in the energy used to make the three Sara Lee cheesecakes thawing in the fridge for when the munchies kick in). That “green” you’re smoking isn’t all that green, after all.

Just a decade ago, marijuana in the popular imagination was largely associated with cheesy stoner iconography — pot leaf decals, tie-dye and paisley patterns — and its packaging was limited to discreet plastic baggies. But now, with medical marijuana legal in 23 states and recreational marijuana legal in four, top designers are stepping up to rebrand the plant.

Turing Pharmaceuticals chief executive Martin Shkreli, who was dubbed “the most hated on the internet”, has maintained the 5,000 per cent inflated price of parasitic infection treatment Daraprim despite international outcry and a subsequent pledge to lower it.

Imagine a parallel universe to this one where friends and families are getting together over a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. But in this alternate universe cannabis is legal, and alcohol isn't.

A tradition steeped in booze

We already know what Thanksgiving will look like in our world. Alcoholism will be prominently on display setting the stage for another year when things get awkward, people drink too much, icy glares from spouses or children chill the room and people drive home despite knowing they shouldn't.

The state doesn't yet require marijuana businesses to conduct pesticide testing, leading to a "buyer beware" market.

Colorado's agricultural agencies are in panic mode after several independent studies found dangerous levels of pesticides in marijuana products.

Celebrating a day of thanksgiving has a long history in this country, dating back to the first year of George Washington’s first term as president, when he proclaimed Nov. 28, 1789 “as a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God.”

The tradition continued, although on different dates in different states, until President Abraham Lincoln in 1863, in the middle of the Civil War, proclaimed the final Thursday in November as Thanksgiving nationwide. Of course the Confederate States refused to recognize Lincoln’s authority, and it was not until after the war ended, during reconstruction in the mid-1870s, that all states participated in the national Thanksgiving celebration.

If you're living in Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington or DC, you can show your thankfulness for legalization this Thursday with a cannabis Thanksgiving feast. We've put together a full menu of THC-infused cuisine. But don't feel the need to go overboard by making the whole spread!

The Main Event

Normally we'd start with an appetizer. But turkey is the centerpiece of an American Thanksgiving feast, so let's begin with how to baste your bird in garlic cannabutter:

Sides

Turkey's the main attraction, but your table will look pretty sparse without a supporting cast of side dishes. Let's start filling your plate with THC-infused stuffing.

Now add some delicious cannabis cranberry sauce. (Note: takes two days to prepare!) 

Last year, New York City mayor Bill de Blasio and NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton made headlines for taking real steps to decriminalize marijuana in the city, pledging to issue summonses for marijuana that operated like speeding tickets for amounts less than 25 grams and pledging to close a loophole by which people who were stopped and frisked could be given citations for displaying marijuana in public places. Data from the New York Post shows that while arrests have fallen, they still number in the tens of thousands and still occur largely on racial lines. According to Gothamist: